Public Liability
Lawyers
We help you through the Public Liability claims process, helping you get the compensation you deserve.
Injured through no fault of your own in public?
If you have been injured and if there was negligence on the part of someone else for your injury, you may be entitled to compensation.
Zaparas Lawyers understands that making a Public Liability claim can be a daunting process, our dedicated team of lawyers are happy to assist you in not only reporting the accident but also helping you with your claim.
We’re here to help
Tell us a little bit about your situation and our friendly team will be in touch.
What are Public Liability claims?
Public Liability claims cover a range of situations where a person has been injured due to the fault of someone else. (Insert link “what is a public liability claim” blog)
Individuals and businesses alike all have a duty to take care of the safety of others. In a public liability claim, you will need to prove that your injury suffered was caused by a breach in the duty of care owed to you.
What do I do if I’ve been injured in a public place?
Consult your Doctor/Allied Health Professional to assess your injury and seek appropriate treatment. It is important to tell them how you sustained your injury.
If possible, take pictures of any relevant details of the area in which the incident took place (spilled liquids, tripping hazards etc). If there were any witnesses to your incident, be sure to ask what they saw and obtain their contact details.
Additionally, make a record of the time, date and location the incident occurred.
It is important to report your injury to the relevant people/business who caused or contributed to your injury. Inform them of the time, date, location and cause of your incident.
You have three years from the date of your incident or injury to make a claim. Contact us immediately if you are approaching the three-year time limit (or if this period has expired).
Zaparas lawyers can help assist you in lodging your claim. Having an experienced Public Liability lawyer present during this process can help ensure you maximize your entitlements. Call us today to set up a free consultation 8527 0200.
What are some common examples of Public Liability claims?
- Slips and trips in supermarkets, shopping centres,
private businesses, aquatic centres, and sporting arenas - Injuries on council property, including footpaths,
parks, and schoolyards - Injuries on private property, including rental
properties - Dog attacks
- Boat and watersport accidents
- Sporting injuries
- Bicycle accidents (not involving a motor vehicle)
- Physical assaults
- Theme park and activity park injury claims
What entitlements are available through a Public Liability claim?
Payments for lost income and compensation for loss of future earnings if you are:
- Unable to work
- Can only work modified duties
- Medical treatment and expenses that are related to your injuries including:
- GP appointments
- Hospital expenses
- Rehabilitation expenses including Physiotherapy and other allied health services
- Psychological/Psychiatric therapy
- Medication expenses
- Personal and home help services
- Occupational rehabilitation services
- Radiology scans and other investigations
- Surgery
Travel expenses related to your injuries
Domestic and personal care assistance required as a result of your injuries.
In most cases, to bring a claim for pain and suffering in public liability matters, the Wrongs Act 1958 requires claimants to satisfy a threshold of either:
- Greater than 5% whole person impairment for physical injuries (other than psychiatric injury or spinal injury); In the case of spinal injury, impairment of 5% or more; or
- In the case of psychiatric injury, impairment of 10% or more.
- It is important to seek advice to ensure that you are accessing all your entitlements. An obligation-free consultation with one of our Public Liability claim lawyers at Zaparas will help you identify your eligibility.
How long do you have to lodge a Public Liability claim?
• You have three years from the date of your incident or injury, in which to make a common law claim.
This can be subject to limited exceptions, contact us immediately if you are approaching the three-year time limit or if this limitation period has expired.
Subject to limited exceptions, you have three years from the date of your incident or injury, in which to make a common law claim. Contact us immediately if you are approaching the three-year time limit or if this limitation period has expired.
What We Offer
Obligation-free
appointments
We get to know your story and understand your circumstances.
Home or hospital
appointments
If you can’t come to us, we can come to you.
Case
management
We advocate for your rights and manage discussions with the insurance companies.
Keep you
updated
Our team will regularly update you about the progress of your claim.
No Win,
No Fee
In the unlikely event that we don’t secure compensation for you, we will not charge you for any of our professional fees.
We can help you
find out if you have a claim
Why choose Zaparas Lawyers for Public Liability Claims?
Zaparas Lawyers understands that this can be quite a daunting process, we are happy to assist you in reporting the accident and are here every step of the way.
Our dedicated Public Liability lawyers can guide you through the process and help make a claim for a benefit at a time you need it most. We have offices all over Melbourne with a dedicated team stationed at each location. You can find us in
Every claim is important to us. Our dedicated team of Public Liability specialists will approach your claim with skill, knowledge, and care. Your file will be conducted by a lawyer who specialises and has experience in the area of public liability claims. We will be able to maximise the benefits you receive, giving you and your family peace of mind.
Still unsure whether your situation requires a lawyer? We’ve created an article detailing the primary 3 reasons what a lawyer can help you with, with case studies to help you decide if this is right for you here.
Our unique combination of compassion and legal excellence has led to an extremely high success rate for our clients.
Contact us today for a free, no-obligation appointment.
Award-winning law firm multiple years in a row.
FAQs
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question?
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the answer.
Examples of successful public liability claims won by Zaparas Lawyers include slips and trips in supermarkets, shopping centres, private businesses, aquatic centres and sporting arenas. Even injuries at private residences, public places, school yards and parks could result in a successful claim.
To support your claim and strengthen your chances of success:
• Report the incident immediately as it happens to either the owner or the staff member present
• Make sure your incident is recorded within an on-site incident report
• Request for the contact details of any witnesses to the incident
• Photograph the area where the incident occurred
Your dedicated Zaparas public liability lawyer will need to clearly prove that the injury was not your fault in order to submit a successful claim for public liability compensation.
Zaparas Lawyers can assist you in gathering the required evidence to make your claim stronger. Call us today on 1800 927 272 for a personal consultation with a public liability solicitor to find out if you are eligible for a public liability claim.
Your entitlement to compensation depends on the severity of your injury, and whether it occurred as a result of the fault of another person or entity in a publicly accessible place.
You may be entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering depending on the injuries you have sustained. The amount of compensation you are entitled to receive for your financial losses is intended to restore you to the financial position you would be in if the accident did not occur.
You may be entitled to claim:
General Damages / Non-Economic Loss – pain, suffering and loss of amenity
The nature of the injury, the estimated recovery period and the rehabilitation required – and whether a further medical treatment or even lifelong care is needed – will be assessed accordingly.
Special Damages/Financial losses resulting from the accident – to cover medical fees, loss of salary, and out-of-pocket expenses
Costs for medical care (such as Physiotherapy), loss of income, and hospital travel costs may be claimed as part of your expenses. Expenses for ongoing care, loss of future income, or home adaptations required as a result of the injury are additional expenses a person may claim.
You will only be compensated once your injury is considered permanent and stable, which is generally one year from when the injury occurred. After approximately one year from the date of your injury we will pay for you to be assessed by doctors who will make an assessment as to the permanency and stability of your injury.
Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may also be able to make a claim for a lump sum payment for pain and suffering. You will also have to establish that your injury occurred due to the negligence of another entity. We will advise you as to whether or not negligence can be established in your case.
You have three (3) years from the date of injury to commence a proceeding in public liability. If you are not sure if you would like to pursue a claim, continue to attend your doctor and hospital appointments and re-evaluate your decision once you have received some treatment and have a better idea of your prognosis.
Zaparas Lawyers operates on a ‘No Win, No Fee’ basis. This means that in the unlikely event that we don’t succeed in securing compensation for you, we will not change you for any of our professional fees.
You should bring all relevant documentation you have such as medical reports, radiological investigations and any other documents that may be relevant. If you have photographs of the place where you were injured these are also beneficial. If possible, these photographs should be taken close to your date of injury, especially when an accident has occurred on a footpath or other public area as the area may be repaired by the time you attend our office for an appointment.
Our firm has a diverse and multicultural team comprising lawyers and law clerks who speak different languages including Greek, Cantonese, Mandarin, Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian, Macedonian, Turkish and Singhalese. We also have a network of the very best interpreters who can attend interviews and appointments.
We will keep you fully informed at every stage of the case. Many public liability compensation matters are settled out-of-court – Zaparas Lawyers personal injury lawyers negotiate hard to get the best settlement for you.
But if a court hearing is necessary, we instruct experienced barristers who specialise in personal injury cases, to make sure you have the best legal representation possible.
The Zaparas Lawyers team has handled a vast array of public liability claims, motor vehicle accident claims and workplace accident claims. Our team has the skills and experience you need to succeed in your case and ensure get the full compensation you deserve.
Our experienced public liability lawyers have handled all kinds of injuries that have been sustained in a wide range of different accidents circumstances. Don’t delay, contact us today and we’ll connect you with a friendly and knowledgeable legal professional with extensive experience in cases just like yours.
If we don’t have a lawyer who can speak your language, we also have access to a wide network of professional interpreters, meaning we’re here to help you every step of the way in a language that you understand.
WorkCover statutory benefits compensation is generally only available to workers. This means volunteers are not entitled to WorkCover compensation unless they are deemed a worker under an Act of Parliament.
If you are a volunteer or someone who assists a government agency in accordance with one of the below Acts of Parliament and are injured whilst carrying out relevant duties then you will be entitled to statutory WorkCover compensation:
- Country Fire Authority Act 1958 (casual fire fighters, including volunteer officers and members and volunteer auxiliary workers)
- Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (volunteer school workers or volunteer student workers)
- Emergency Management Act 1986 (volunteer emergency workers)
- Juries Act 2000 (jurors)
- Police Assistance Compensation Act 1968 (PAC Act) ( volunteers assisting police officers)
- Victoria State Emergency Services Act 2005 (voluntary registered and probationary members of the Victoria SES)
Volunteers in prisons and offenders working or participating in a program under a Correctional Order are deemed workers employed by the Crown and thereby entitled to statutory WorkCover compensation.
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Possessing a duty of care depicts a legal responsibility to safeguard the wellbeing of others, including taking reasonable care not…
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Fighting for our client, while inadvertently fighting for all injured Victorians: Vicinity Centres PM Pty Ltd -v- Arik [2023]
What started out as an investigation into whether a Medical Panel determination in a Public Liability Claim was invalid by…
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